All Your Sunscreen Questions Answered

Sunscreen is a technical miracle. This is the closest anti-aging miracle we have, and it makes the outdoors safe for pale people like me who would otherwise be fried to a bright pink crisp. But we know you have questions about how to use it, and even if you really need it. Here’s our tutorial on sunscreen basics.

When do I need to use sunscreen?

The dermatologist will tell you all the time dang. You may remember from your carefree childhood that sunscreen was just a rarity on beach days because that’s the only time you need to worry about sunburn. But dermatologists are right.

Sunburn occurs when you are exposed to a lot of UVB rays from the sun. In fact, this only happens in the middle of the day in the summer, since that is when the sun shines directly on us. As soon as the angle of the sun drops below 35 degrees, because it is sooner or later, or because it is winter now, you will not get any significant amount of UV B, and therefore, you will not have to worry about sunburn.

But a good sunscreen will also protect your skin from the UVA rays that cause skin to thicken and age. They also increase the risk of skin cancer. Have you ever seen this photo of a truck driver with uneven wrinkled skin on one side of his face ? UVA passes through windows, so while he wasn’t necessarily sunburned or burnt, his skin still suffered from UVA rays over 28 years of driving.

Who needs sunscreen?

Nobody gets off easy here, sorry.

Dark skin protects you slightly, but not completely. The more melanin you have, the less likely you are to get sunburn or skin cancer. But this is not ideal protection, which is why dermatologists recommend using sunscreen anyway. Consumer Reports recommends several brands that don’t look ashy on dark skin, including Banana Boat’s Coppertone ClearlySheer and Clear UltraMist.

Women may be more likely to pay attention to the need for sunscreen, but people of either gender are at risk for skin cancer, not to mention aging and sunburn. So go ahead and use it anyway, and rub a little into your beard if you can .

But is it safe?

Yes. Okay, you rub chemicals into your skin almost every day, which is understandable to worry a little, but then again, you also rub chemicals into your skin every time you apply lotion or cosmetic. Science has found no major health risks from sunscreen use.

Coral reefs really have something to fear from sunscreen: the chemicals oxybenzone and octinoxate are dangerous to them, which is why they were banned in Hawaii . If you are swimming near coral reefs, avoid these ingredients. Otherwise, any sunscreen will do.

If you’re intimidated by anything with little cancer risk, look up – the real sun is the bad guy here. Going outside without sunscreen poses a greater risk to your health than any of the sunscreen ingredients.

There are also no effective alternatives to sunscreen (other than being indoors; this works very well). If someone is trying to sell you nutritional supplements to increase your sun tolerance, or to convince you that you can smear it with coconut oil instead, just say no .

By the way, if you’re wondering how about my tiny baby’s delicate skin , the answer has always been to keep babies in the shade if they’re less than six months old. This also means you don’t have to worry about them sucking all the sunscreen off your hands.

How much do I really need to use?

As much as you can. It is highly unlikely that you, as a human, will ever manage to apply enough to get SPF on the label. Sunscreens are tested using two milligrams of product per square centimeter of skin, the amount scientists have chosen for their convenience. (Apply a slightly thinner layer and it will be difficult to achieve uniformity during testing.)

But most people use a quarter of that amount, or half if they really try. So, of course, try to apply this full glass (one ounce or a drop the size of a ping pong ball) all over your nearly nude beach body. But keep in mind that you are probably getting less protection than you think, which means:

• With SPF 15, you won’t be able to stay 15 times longer than you would otherwise; it’s more like 3.5 .
• A high SPF sunscreen helps fill up what you are missing. Yes, in the laboratory SPF 50 and SPF 100 are almost the same. Applied the way people do in real life, there is a big difference .
• Either way, use sleeves, hats, and shade to keep out of the sun. Even the best sunscreen doesn’t protect you 100 percent.

Are the sprays ok?

Sprays work, but with some caveats:

• You have to make sure you apply enough – and, unlike the cream shot glass rule, there is no reliable guide to determining how much spray is enough. Spray on until a visible shine appears and in theory you should rub it in. (I never do, and that’s okay. This is not medical advice, however.)
• You probably don’t want to inhale it or get it in your eyes. I use lotion on my face (and my kids’ faces) and spray everywhere.
• Never spray them near fire.

Can an SPF moisturizer replace sunscreen?

How to tell us the dermatologist Fein Frey to our care management of skin , SPF – it’s a great thing to use moisturizing creams and cosmetics, but the problem is that you need to re-apply SPF during the day. It is unlikely that there will be a product that you will need to reapply as many times as your sunscreen, so individual products are handy. Personally, I use an SPF moisturizer every morning and then reapply just sunscreen as needed.

By the way, she says it doesn’t matter what is applied first, sunscreen or anything else. It’s important to just make sure you are wearing it.